Measuring the semantic integrity of scientific fields: a method and a study of sociology, economics and biophysics

The paper introduces a concept for measuring the interpretive fragmentation of scientific fields by the analysis of their citation networks. Transitive closure in two-mode networks is the basis of the proposed measurement. To test the validity of the concept two analyses are presented. One compares...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inScientometrics Vol. 88; no. 1; pp. 163 - 177
Main Author Varga, Attila V.
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Dordrecht Springer Netherlands 01.07.2011
Springer
Subjects
Bibliometrics. Scientometrics
Bibliometrics. Scientometrics. Evaluation
Citation analysis
Citations (References)
Comparative Analysis
Computer Science
Economics
Ethics
Exact sciences and technology
Information and communication sciences
Information science. Documentation
Information Storage and Retrieval
Library and information science. General aspects
Library Science
Methods
Networks
Physics
Scholarly communication
Science
Sciences and techniques of general use
Scientific Research
Semantics
Sociological Research
Subject fields
Integration
Paradigms
Citation analysis
Network analysis
Meaning
Ambiguity
Research field
Citation
Social sciences
Scientific research
Knowledge production
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Summary:The paper introduces a concept for measuring the interpretive fragmentation of scientific fields by the analysis of their citation networks. Transitive closure in two-mode networks is the basis of the proposed measurement. To test the validity of the concept two analyses are presented. One compares the integrity of two social sciences, sociology and economics, and a natural science, biophysics. The results are in line with the widely held opinion, that because of the lack in cumulative and consensual knowledge production mechanisms the social sciences are more disintegrated. Sociology is considerably more fragmented then economics, as the different paradigm structure of these disciplines would predict. As a second test, the fragmentation of scholarly communication inside and between the sub-fields of sociology is measured. The results correctly indicate that meaning making processes are taking place inside invisible colleges.
Bibliography:ObjectType-Article-1
SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1
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ISSN:0138-9130
1588-2861
DOI:10.1007/s11192-011-0342-9